Pepin, Shadle Earn USTCA Honors

The United States Track Coaches Association announced its annual NCAA Division I outdoor district track and field awards Friday. Nebraska collected two of the organizations four top honors for the Midwest Region.

 

NU Head Coach Gary Pepin was named Women’s Coach of the Year for his third USTCA coaching honor of 2005. Pepin led the NU women to their first outdoor Big 12 team championship since the 2000 season two weeks ago in Manhattan, Kan., to give the squad its second indoor-outdoor sweep in the conference’s nine-year history. Pepin also claimed both Men’s and Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year honors earlier this year after leading the Huskers to both Big 12 indoor titles.

 

Senior Anne Shalde was named Female Athlete of the Year for the Midwest Region after earning her first conference championship in the 1,500-meter run two weeks ago. Shadle, who won the NCAA title in the women’s indoor mile back in March, also clinched the outdoor Big 12 team title for the women by finishing second in her first-ever race of the women’s 5,000 meters.

 

Nebraska attempts to qualify athletes for the NCAA outdoor meet this weekend during the NCAA Midwest Region Championships. Forty Huskers are scheduled to compete in the meet, which will be held Friday and Saturday in Norman, Okla.